Dirk Van de Put of Mondelēz and BCG’s Rich Lesser discuss delivering value through transformation and the role that AI can play.
BCG’s purpose is to unlock the potential of those who advance the world. We work across boundaries to take on the hardest problems and to drive real value creation for businesses and for the world in which we live. — Rich Lesser
Education
- MBA, with high distinction, Harvard Business School
- BSE, chemical engineering, summa cum laude, University of Michigan
Honors and Awards
- Top CEO in the US, Glassdoor, 2021
- Excellence in Public Policy Award, Committee for Economic Development, 2019
- ChE Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Michigan, 2018
- Honoree, Catalyst Awards Conference, 2018
- Honoree, America Needs You Benefit, 2015
- Top 25 Consultants, Consulting Magazine, 2009
- Baker Scholar, Harvard Business School
Rich Lesser is the Global Chair of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he actively engages with CEOs, boards of directors, and public sector officials around the world on critical topics including economic growth and development, organization transformation, the energy transition, innovation, AI, and navigating geopolitical shifts.
He served as BCG’s CEO from 2013 to 2021, a period during which BCG tripled and crossed $10 billion in revenues. It achieved double digit annual revenue growth across all regions and nearly all practices. During his tenure as CEO, Rich built new units to create BCG’s digital business-building, advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI capabilities, and launched the BCG Center for Climate & Sustainability. He was named the Best U.S. Large Company CEO by Glassdoor in 2021.
Rich currently serves as Chief Advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, is on the leadership council of Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, and is a member of other leading organizations, including the WEF Community of Chairpersons. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Business Roundtable, and was appointed to senior advisory councils on international trade and economic policy by both President Trump and President Biden.
Rich served as BCG’s chairman for North and South America from 2009 to 2012, and as head of the New York Metro office system from 2000 to 2009. Prior to joining BCG in 1988, Rich worked in product development at Procter & Gamble. He serves on the University of Michigan College of Engineering Leadership Advisory Board.
